Question

Guys please help! In triangle CDE, the measure of angle C is 90 degrees, side CD is 15 and DE is 3 more than CE. Find the length of the longest side of CDE.

Answer 1

You can calculate it using the law of cosines: c^2=a^2+b^2-2*a*b*cos(C)

your triangle is
CD=15=a
CE=?=b
DE=CE+3=b+3=c
and C=90°

-> insert those values, with c substituted with b+3 to remove c

c^2=a^2+b^2-2*a*b*cos(C)
(b+3)^2=15^2+b^2-2*15*b*cos(90)
cos(90)=0->
(b+3)^2=15^2+b^2
b^2+2*3*b+3^2=225+b^2
6b+9=225
6b=216
b=36=CE

DE=CE+3=36+3=39